Universal bar.



A. c. ROEBUCK.

UNIVERSAL BAR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, I914. RENEWED MN. 22, I918.

1,276,1 18. Patented Au 20, 1918.

2 SHEETS SHEET I.

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A. C. ROEBUCK.

UNIVERSAL BAR. -APPUCAT|0N FILED APR. 25. 1914. RENEWED JAN. 22. 1918.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918 2 SHEET$SHEET 2- ALVAH C. ROEBUCK, or CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 WOODSTOCK TYPEWRITER OOMPANY, or WOODSTOCK,ILLINOIs, A CORPORATIGN OF ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1918.

Application filed April 25, 1914,- Serial 1%. 834,554.. Renewed January22, 1918. Serial No. 213,267.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, A vAH G. ROEBUCK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Universal Bars, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to typewriters and more particularly to thatportion of the escapement mechanism of a typewriter commonly known asthe universal bar.

The principal obj ect of the invention is to provide a universal barwhich is engaged by the type bars of the printing mechanism behind thetype bar segment in which the type bars are pivotally mounted, theuniversal bar proper being of such construction and formation thaterasures, dirt, grit and the like will fall upon or be deflected by theuniversal bar and are prevented from being thrown into the bearings orslots of the type bars through the quick movement of the uni- VQI'Salbar after being struck by the heel of any of the type bars. I

Other and further objects will be hereinafter set forth, the inventionconsisting in the features of novelty in the construction, combinationand arrangement of the several parts generally shown in the accompanyingdrawings and described in the specification, but more particularlypointed out in the appended claims. I I

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a bottom view of escapement mechanismcomprising a universal bar constructed in accordance with theprinciples'of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a rear View.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the universal bar proper and its frame.

I Fig. 5 is a detail view in cross section of the preferred form ofuniversal bar; and

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of another forn'i of universal barproper.

This embodiment of my invention com prises an escapement mechanismconsisting of a number of parts which are adapted to be mounted on theunder side of a top plate 8 of a typewriter machine. Extendingdownwardly from the rear part of this top plate are lugs 9 in which arocker 10 is mounted. Secured to another part of the frame 8 is a typebar segment 11 with slots 12 in which type bars 13 are pivotally mountedon a pivot wire 14. The rear of the type bar segment 11 is formed withan arcuate groove 15 which passes through the slots 12, therebyproviding a construction in which a heel 16 of the type bars 13 ispermitted to enter the groove upon the actuation of the type bars toengage and move the universal bar, as hereinafter set forth.

A universal bar frame 17 preferably constructed of sheet metal, isformed with depending ears 18 at the rear end which are pivotallyconnected to the lower eXtremities of the rocker 10. At the forward endof the frame 17 are arms 19 to support the universal bar 20. Thisuniversal bar 20 is also arcuate in form and is adapted to enter thegroove 15 in the rear face of the type bar segment 11 so that when thetype bars 13 are actuated it will be engaged and moved 'rearwardly bythe heel 16 of each of the type bars. This rearward movement is opposedby a spring 21 disposed between the frame 8 and the rear of the rocker10 which operates to return the universal bar 20 to its groove 15 assoon as the type bars 13 are withdrawn from the printing position. Atthe forward end of the frame 17 is an adjustable spindle 22, the end ofwhich is adapted to enter a perforation in the type bar segment 11 toaccurately guide the front end of theuniversal bar frame 17. Escapementmechanism, designated generally by the reference numeral 24, isconnected to the rear end of the frame 17 and is operated in accordancewith the movement of the frame 17.

I The universal bar proper preferably consists of a piece of sheet metalbent in the form of an arc with its front edge 25 turned upwardly, asshown clearly in Fig. 5. This turned-up portion is adapted to be seatedin the groove 15 when the universal bar is at rest, and the bar isprovided with perforations 26 at its lowermost or central portionthrough which dirt, etc., may pass. The universal bar is inclineddownwardly and away from the up-turned edge and away from the type barsegment 11 so that any erasures or dirt falling upon the inclinedsurface will be deflected outwardly from the universal bar and will notfall in the slots 12 of the type bar segment. It 1s also to be notedthat the quick rearward movement of the universal bar, caused by theengagement of the type bars therewith, tends to cause any particleslodged on the universal bar to travel forwardly so that unless theuniversal bar is inclined, or is provided with the ridge 25 at itsforward edge, the erasures and dirt may be thrown into the type barslots. The holes 26 at the lowermost portion of the universal bar may beused as an auxiliary to prevent the accumulation of erasures or dirt atthis place since it is evident that if the dirt piles up at this pointthe quick movement of the universal bar may throw it over the ridge 25.If desired, the ridge 25 may be omitted, as shown in Fig. 6, but theuniversal'bar is inclined for the purpose of deflecting dirt from thetype bar slots and for preventing the dirt from being thrown into theslots by the quick movement of the universal bar.

This construction is particularly well adapted for assembling the partswith the greatest facility; the top plate 8 is inverted in assembling,as shown in Fig. l, and the rocker 10, frame 17 and escapementmechanismarereadily placed in position. When the top plate is connected to theremainder of the typewriter machine the segment 11 is secured to theproper portion of the plate 8, the universal bar is seated in the groove15 at the rear of the segment and the universal bar frame 17 ispositioned at its forward end by means of the spindle 22, after whichthe tension of the spring 21 may be adjusted, as desired. Thisconvenience in assembling is one of the very important features of theconstruction of a typewriter inasmuch as it is made up of a great manyparts and the expense and convenience of assembling it is an importantitem in its construction.

iI/Vhat I claim is: V

1. In a typewriter, a type bar segment,

and a horizontally reciprocable universal bar moving toward and from thetype bar segment with its upper face inclined downwardly away from thesegment to deflect falling dirt therefrom and to discharge dirt from thebar by its movement in a direction away from the segment.

2. In a typewriter, a universal bar consisting of a strip of materialarcuate in form' with the ends higher than the center and horizontallyreciprocable, the central portion having a downwardly inclined upperface to divert falling dirt and to discharge dirt therefrom in apredetermined direction.

3. In a typewriter, the combination with a slotted type bar segmenthaving a groove in the rear face across the slots, and a universal baradapted to be seated in the groove over the slots with an inclined upperface to deflect and by it movement to discharge dirt therefrom in adirection away from the slots.

a. In a typewriter, a universal bar consisting of a strip of materialturned up at its forward edge to form a dirt protecting ledge.

5. In a typewriter, a universal bar consisting of a strip of materialturned up at its forward edge to form a dirt protecting ledge andinclined downwardly from said ledge to form a dirt deflecting surface.

'6. In a typewriter, the combination with a slotted type bar segment, ofa groove eX- tending across the slots in the rear face of the segment,and a universal bar movable toward and from the segment with a ledge atits contacting edge and a deflecting surface inclined downwardlytherefrom adapted to be seated in the groove;

7 In a typewriter, the combination with a type bar segment in which typebars are pivoted'and having a groove in the rear face thereof above thetype bar pivots, of a reciprocable universal bar having a forward ledgeand upper deflecting surface adapted to'be seated in the groove.

'8. In a typewriter, the combination with a slotted type bar segment inwhich type bars are pivoted and having a groove in the rear face thereofabove the type bar pivots, of a universal bar formed with a deflectingsurface and with an upturned edge adapted to be seated in the groove andmovable to and from the segment. I 9. In a typewriter, a universal barconsisting of a pieceof material with an inclined upper face to form adeflecting surface and with perforations therethrough to prevent theaccumulation of dirt thereon.

10. In a typewriter, a imiversal bar arcuate in form with an inclineddirt deflecting surface and with perforations through the barto preventthe accumulation of dirt at any place thereon.

universal bar formed of a piece of material f with an upper deflectingsurface and an upturned edge adapted to be seated in the groove, andwith perforations through the bar to prevent the accumulation of dirtthereon.

12. In a typewriter, the combination with a slotted type bar segment,type bars pivotally mounted in the slots and formed with an engagingheel, of a universal bar with an upturned front flange adapted to beengaged by the heel for moving it when the type bars are actuated, areciprocable frame, and means to support the frame at its forward end infixed relation with respect to the type bar segment.

18. In a typewriter, the combination with a top plate, of a slotted typebar segment secured thereto, type bars pivotally mounted in the segment,a universal bar disposed above the pivots of the type bars, a universalbar frame attached to the universal bar, means in connection with theframe at its rear end to mount it pivotally on the plate. and a spindleat its forward end inserted through a perforation in the segment tosupport the frame with respect to the segment.

14:. In a typewriter, the combination with a top plate, of a slottedtype bar segment secured thereto and having a perforation in the rearface, a universal bar adapted to engage the segment, type bars mountedin the slots and adapted to engage the universal bar, a rocker pivotallymounted at the rear of the plate, a universal bar frame pivotallyconnected to the rocker and to the universal bar, and an adjustablespindle mounted on the front end of the frame and adapted to be insertedin the perforation in the segment to position the front end of theframe.

15. In a typewriter, the combination with a top plate, of a slotted typebar segment formed with a perforation and a groove in the rear faceextending through the slots, a universal bar having a perforateddeflecting surface and a ledge at the forward and upper edge adapted tobe seated in the groove, type bars pivotally mounted in the slots of thesegment below the universal bar and formed with a heel to engage it, arocker pivotally mounted in the rear of the plate, a frame pivotallyconnected at one end to the rocker and at the other end to the universalbar, a spindle mounted on the front end of the universal bar frameadapted to be seated in the perforation of the segment, and a springbetween the rocker and the plate tending to press the rocker downwardlyand the universal bar into the slot of the segment.

16. In a typewriter, the combination with a type bar segment, of typebars pivoted in the segment, a universal bar adapted to be engaged bythe type bars, a reciprocable frame for the universal bar, hingedsupport for mounting the frame at the rear end thereof for freereciprocal movement, and a sliding connection between the frame and thesegment at the forward end of the frame for supporting it for freereciprocation.

17. In a universal bar structure for typewriters, the combination with atop frame plate, of a type bar segment connected thereto, a rockerpivotally mounted in and depending from the plate, a universal bar framepivotally connected to the rocker at a point below its pivot, and aguiding connection between the universal bar frame and the segment forguiding the universal bar frame in its reciprocating movement.

18. In a typewriter universal bar con struction, the combination with atop supporting plate, of a type bar segment connected thereto, a rockerpivotally connected to the plate at the under side thereof, a universalbar frame pivotally connected at its rear end to the rocker, a guideconnect-ion between the frame and the segment, and a spring disposedbetween the under side of the plate and the rocker, tending to press theframe forwardly in the direction of the segment.

19. In a typewriter universal bar construction, the combination with atop supporting plate, of a type bar segment connected thereto, a rockerpivotally connected to the plate at the under side thereof, a universalbar frame pivotally connected at its rear end to the rocker, a guideconnection between the frame and the segment, a stop mounted on therocker for limiting its rearward movement, and a spring tending to pressthe rocker downwardly and the frame forwardly.

20. In a typewriter universal bar construction, the combination with atop supporting plate, of a type bar segment connected thereto, a rockerpivotally connected to the plate at the under side thereof, a universalbar frame pivotally connected at its rear end to the rocker, a guideconnection between the frame and the segment, a universal bar connectedto the frame and disposed adjacent the segment, type bars pivoted in thesegment adapted to engage the universal bar for moving it and the framerearwardly, a spring disposed between the rocker and the plate foropposing the rearward movement of the frame, and an adj ustable stopmounted on the rocker for limiting the rearward movement of the frameand the upward movement of the rocker.

21. In a universal bar structure for typewriters, the combination with atop plate having depending lugs spaced apart, of a rocker pivotallymounted in the lugs, extending rearwardly thence downwardly from thepivot point with eiztremities curved forwardly, a type bar segmentsecured to the plate, a universal bar frame pivotally connected at itsrear end to the extremities of the rocker, the pivotpoint lying belowthe pivot of the rocker, an adjustable guiding connection between theframe at its forward end and the segment, a universal bar supported bythe frame adjacent the segment, type bars mounted in the segment adaptedto engage the universal bar for moving it rearwardly, an adjustable stopat the rear of the rocker for limiting the name to this specification,in the presence upward movement of the rocker with respect 7 of twosubscribing Witnesses, on this 18th 10 to the supporting plate, and aspring disclay of April, A. D. 1914:.

posed between the rocker and the supporting 5 plate, tending to pressthe rocker doWn- ALVAH ROEBUCK Wardly, and the universal bar frame for-V WVitnesses: Wardly. L. E. HOUSEHOLDER,

In testimony whereof I have signed my L. V. MENTZER. 7

Copies oi this patent may be obtained for five cents eech, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C."

